Picard

New casting information has surfaced for CBS All Access’ as-yet-untitled ‘Star Trek’ series starring Patrick Stewart, reprising his famous role as Captain Jean-Luc Picard, and it’s possible that Picard might not be the only ‘Trek’ vet that the show will include.  It’s also possible that The Doctor from ‘Star Trek: Voyager’ could make a comeback.

Check out this casting description, which sounds pretty familiar:

  • Dr. Smith — Producers are seeking a male actor of any ethnicity in his 30s or 40s for the part of a hologram that assists the crew of Picard’s ship in cases o emergency, in the fields of “engineering, tactical, science investigation, and medical issues.”  “Dr. Smith” (which may not be the character’s real name) is programmed to learn from its experiences, but not to become “self-aware.”  He is described as “calm, efficient, and empathic, but he sometimes has difficulties sorting out others emotional reactions to get at the facts.”

If this isn’t a new version of The Doctor (originally played by Robert Picardo), it’s clearly a spin on the classic Spock/Data archetype.

The action of the new series takes place after the destruction of Romulus.  This event factors heavily as Picard has spent a long time developing a relationship between the Romulan Empire and the Federation.

Who else will be factoring into the new series?  Read on.

  • Starton —  Producers are seeking a male in his early 30s of any ethnicity, to play a scientist-type, an expert in “positronic brains” who is thrilled by the research opportunities of accompanying Picard on his voyage.  One problem– he’s afraid of space!  He is also described as “charming in a self-deprecating way” and it is stated that “his demeanor will evolve over the series.”  (Presumably, he’ll get over that fear of space!)
  • Connie  — An African-American female in her early 30s.  A pilot with an impressive ship that she uses to “transport people to and from an artifact of some kind.”  Connie is a recent widow, who is running from a death sentence on her home planet.  (It’s not clear if she is being sought for killing her husband or not.)  She is described as being quick-tempered, but also “quick to forgive.”
  • Lawrence — a “handsome” man of any ethnicity in his 30s.  He has “a dodgy moral compass,” and is the pilot of Picard’s ship.  “Being a capable (and enthusiastic) thief, his loyalties are questionable.”  In other words, a Han Solo/Mal Reynolds-type.
  • K’Bar — This character is a 17-year-old Romulan, “the only child of what’s a mainly female Spiritual Order.”  He is also a martial artist that is considered a “lethal weapon.”  Producers are seeking someone with not only martial arts expertise, but adept at fencing as well.  K’Bar is further described as  “prone to mood swings and is committed to living in the moment with as much transparency as possible.”  He is also extremely devoted to Picard and his mission.  To borrow from ‘Firefly’, this sounds like a River Tam-type.
  • Indira — A woman of any ethnicity in her early 20s.  Described as “extremely agile and physically agile,” she is also described as “not so mature and a bit socially challenged because she tries too hard.  Her intelligence often gets in the way of her manners. She’s cut off from home and her difficult mission puts a strain on her maturity. She’s still ‘finding her way in the wider world’.”  Though the physicality is unique, the abrasive personality sounds a little like ‘Star Trek: Discovery’s Paul Stamets.
  • Alana — Just as it seems that Picard would be surrounded by a bunch of kids, producers are seeking a female of any ethnicity in her mid-40s to mid-50s for Alana, a “brilliant analyst” with a “great memory,” but a dark past involving drug and alcohol abuse.  “Often times she gets irritated with her own vulnerability and is certain of herself, even when she’s wrong. A former intelligence officer, she sees conspiracies everywhere. Her professional and personal losses weigh heavily on her.”

This sounds like a much more ragtag gathering than the usual Starfleet crews that comprised the casts of prior ‘Star Trek’ series.

The new Picard series is expected to arrive later this year on CBS All Access.

Source: That Hashtag Show